The death of a loved one is so often a painful and confusing time for members of the family and dear friends. Read helpful information on the centuries-old Jewish practices around death and mourning.
For Jews, practising their faith involves worship and prayer at home and in the synagogue. Being part of a community, celebrating festivals and rites of passage together is important within Judaism.
The death of a loved one is a very disorienting time, and isn’t something many people think about until it’s actually happening to them. Understanding some of the traditions and the structured periods of mourning that Judaism offers may help provide some support in the grieving process.
In Judaism, traditions around death have two purposes - to comfort the living, and to show respect for the dead. Understanding some of the more nuanced Jewish traditions and rituals for caring for a body before the funeral may help provide some support in a grieving process.
The word for funeral in Judaism is levaya, which means accompanying. To accompany a person to their final resting place is an act of love and kindness for both the deceased and their family and this video explains a few of the Jewish practices to expect.
A simple, short guide to what to expect at a Jewish shiva, and how to support a friend in mourning. Watch this video and feel better prepared.
udaism does not shy away from close encounters with death, but frames them ritually. Much attention is paid to treating the dead (and even a dead body) with respect (k’vod ha-met) and to comforting mourners (nichum aveilim). The timeline of Jewsih mourning.
Our tradition encompasses all of life, day and night, light and dark. Even in the most difficult of situations—the imminent and then actual loss of a loved one—our Torah is there to strengthen us, to guide us, and to help us grow and see beyond our loss.